The University of Queensland has welcomed today’s (August 11, 2006) meeting of the deck spans mid-river of the $55.47 million cable-stay bridge between Dutton Park and St Lucia.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay, AC, said the bridge once opened would improve the accessibility of the campus for bus, cycle and pedestrian use. It was on track for completion in time for first semester of university in 2007.
“The University’s governing Senate 80 years ago had a choice of establishing the University at either Victoria Park near the hospitals, or at St Lucia, a suburb which in 1926 was inaccessible.
“Senate at its meeting on December 10, 1926 voted for the St Lucia site on the understanding the Brisbane City Council would agree to make the campus accessible with a bridge,” he said.
“Although the Council has since provided buses and ferries, the University is pleased that the promise of a bridge has now been kept.
“Since that time, the St Lucia campus has become the second largest traffic generator in the Brisbane area, with up to 40,000 people a day visiting campus at the beginning of first semester.”
Professor Hay said the Bridge would help ease access problems for students, staff and the wider community living on the south side of the Brisbane River, many of whom had to go through the City to get to campus.
At a meeting on October 9, 2003, the University Senate set out stringent conditions on which it would support the construction of the bridge to, but not through, the St Lucia campus. Senate noted the worsening traffic congestion on Coronation Drive and Sir Fred Schonell Drive in St Lucia and supported a bridge that would encourage the use of public transport to the campus.
Senate also affirmed there would never be a connection to the campus road network, and no through-running bus services to preserve the amenity of the area.
This intent had been further strengthened in the final designs that isolated College Road, St Lucia from the bus turn-around circle at the St Lucia campus to return buses to Dutton Park shortly after they arrived on campus. College Road will no longer connect between Thynne Road and Sir William MacGregor Drive. Cyclists and pedestrians will have easy access to a network of campus pathways.
Professor Hay said the Senate resolution three years ago also strongly urged the BCC to commit to a timetable for the construction of two pedestrian/cycle bridges from West End and Yeronga to UQ.
“We need multiple, environmentally friendly crossings to the University which is one of the most significant destination points in Brisbane,” Professor Hay said.
Media: Further information, Jan King 0413 601 248.
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